2010 Volume 72 Issue 5 Pages 500-508
A prototype system that indicates the operating conditions to enable the operator to reduce fuel consumption was mounted on a 24kW agricultural tractor and subjected to fertilizing tests and inter-row cultivating tests. By changing the operating conditions (traveling gear, PTO gear, and engine speed) according to the indications of this system, it was possible to reduce fuel consumption by about 45% at a power ratio (the ratio of working power to the maximum PTO output) of about 20% with full throttle and by about 10% at a power ratio of 25 to 30% with 2/4 throttle. Furthermore, the effects of using this system for 15 types of work were estimated for the area under management of 12ha of paddy and 8ha of double cropping soybean-wheat. This resulted in a fuel savings of 174L/year at a cost reduction of 15,000 yen/year (assuming the price of diesel oil was 85 yen/L).
